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Brandon Moyo, [email protected]

THE name Takawira is synonymous with greatness in Zimbabwean rugby circles, carrying significant weight. Many rugby enthusiasts will remember the late great Arnold “Tuks” Takawira, who played for the Cheetahs and Sables. He contributed immensely to the growth and development of rugby in the country.

Years after the Zimbabwe rugby community was robbed of a wonderful man who loved his game, the Takawira name continues to dazzle the local rugby scene. One of his sons, Tawanda — also affectionately known as “Tuks” — has been making waves in the local rugby scene. The 25-year-old Matabeleland Warriors wing has been a marvel to watch, reminding the rugby faithful of his legendary father.

Tawanda is still trying to walk in his legendary father’s shoes but acknowledges it is a huge task to complete and fulfil. However, he is determined to make him proud.

“My father’s legacy was a big inspiration and even up to now, I am still trying to fill his shoes because he left a huge gap. He was amazing; he used to do things that people, up to now, still can’t do. I don’t think if he wasn’t there, I would have played rugby. He is one of the main reasons why I played rugby. I am trying to make him proud,” he said.

Whenever the talented 25-year-old steps onto the field, he knows he is carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders, with people watching him closely. He says the name on the back of his shirt comes with a lot of pressure to perform at his best.

“The Takawira name comes with a lot of pressure and criticism. Everything you do, every mistake you make, people are watching. Even if you do 50 good things and one mistake, people will criticise, saying you were brought up by a legend so you should know better. So, the name comes with a lot of pressure and criticism,” said Tawanda.

His father’s love for the game was contagious as Tawanda and his brothers were drawn into the game at a young age. All he knew growing up was rugby, watching his father play for Busters every weekend, and that is where he fell in love with the game. He was born into a rugby-playing family and was surrounded by legendary names.

“Being born in a rugby-playing family, my father was a rugby player, he played for the national team, so I just grew up with rugby. That is all I knew; all my brothers played rugby. I started playing maybe at two or three years old that is all I remember. Every weekend I would attend rugby games and watch my father and brothers play, and I just fell in love with the sport,” he said.

As he enters the peak of his rugby career, Tawanda has been an instrumental member of the Warriors team that has been dominating the local scene for a long time.

Like all his peers, he has his eyes set on playing for the Sables, and it appears the dream is coming closer by each passing day. He was part of the Bulawayo provincial select team that played against Zimbabwe A last month at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds and managed to catch the eye of national team head coach Pieter Benade.

After an impressive game against the African champions, he is one of the few players selected from the province to undergo a Sables training programme. For Tawanda, that ranks as one of his best achievements, as he believes it’s a step in the right direction. He has played for the Cheetahs once but believes the Sables training call-up is his best.

“I have been selected to take part in the Sables training camp, and that is what we are working on. My best achievement is now being selected in this training squad, and it actually means I am doing something right. We will see how far it goes.

“Being selected into the training camp was just unexplainable. It was amazing, knowing that all the hard work you have been putting in, all the training sessions and everything you have been doing, has finally been recognised. It was something unbelievable, and up to now, I still can’t believe it.

“My target now is to make the national team and represent my country and do what I know best; that is the goal,” he said.

At Warriors, Tawanda is playing alongside his brother Bradley, which he described as the best feeling.

Hartsfield rugby grounds

Having played against each other on several occasions, he is pleased that they now share the same changing room. The duo played against each other in Sevens tournaments when Bradley was with Harare Sports Club, and Tawanda was with Warriors. Not only does he draw inspiration from his equally talented brother but also his cousin, Kudakwashe “Goofy” Nyakufaringwa, who was part of the Sables team that won the Africa Cup in July. Tawanda added that his cousin’s achievements drive him to keep going forward.

“It was a bit hard to mark him (Bradley) because we were playing the same position at the time, but now we are playing together, and it’s just magical. Goofy doing what he is doing is just fuelling me to want to join him more. We used to train together, so when he succeeds, I also have to succeed because I know the work we put in is almost similar. I know my time is coming, and he motivates me every single day just to make sure I keep pushing,” he said.

Despite not having his father as his mentor anymore, Tawanda’s career continues to be moulded by rugby legends. Over the years, he has been under the watchful eyes of the legendary duo of Victor Olonga and Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba. He said the two have been more than just coaches; they have been playing his father’s role and he is forever grateful to them.

“My biggest challenge was when I lost my father, someone who was there to coach me. Fortunately for me, I had people like Victor Olonga and Gilbert Nyamutsamba to guide me along the way, and they are still doing that. Victor has been training me for the past six years. He has always been pushing me, trying to unlock the level I don’t know yet that he sees in me and Gilbert has also always been there for me. He tells me what to do and what not to do. They are more than coaches; they are like my fathers. I don’t think without them I would be here,” he said.

What is not in dispute is that Tawanda is set to scale greater heights in the world of rugby. —@brandon_malvin